Historic journals from Newark high school heading to Washington D.C.
NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11) - It's the closest thing these students have to a time machine.
Inside an archive room at Newark's Barringer High School are restored books from as far back as the 1800s. Several of them are journals penned by students at the time. The school's alumni association decided some of these books were destined for shelves far beyond Newark.
"We're looking at the past in real-time as we're installing two of the 29 journals in the Library of Congress," said Principal Natasha Pared.
The two journals heading to Washington include captivating testimonials of Barringer students from 1865, the days after President Lincoln's assassination.
Now, it's time for four seniors -Kevin Renjifo, Dalila Ramirez, Edwardo Ortega and Johel Perez—to write their own journal entries on events, issues and technology in our world right now for the future to read.
"Our piece of history during that time period, more for people from future generations to discover it," said Rejifo.
"I'm very proud of being part of this and for future generations to be able to find out more about us," said Ortega through Pared, who interpreted.
One of the oldest high schools in the nation, Barringer High has an affinity for history and is a living example of it.
"We were given the task of creating these journals to continue the legacy that Barringer has already started, and we wish to honor that," said Perez.
"A lot of books, they're written by adults," said Ramirez, "they should know our perspective as teenagers."